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Writer's pictureLaVonne McIver James

Six Questions with Oppressed Free Director Ravi Rapaka



Director Ravi Rapaka

Ravi Rapaka is the director of Oppressed Free, a short about a young women who must make a life changing decision.

The film screens at the Churches Making Movies Christian Film Festival in Secaucus, New Jersey on Sunday, October 15th at 3:30 pm. For tickets, visit churchesmakingmovies.com

What is your film background?

I completed Certificate Course in Filmmaking from Lights Film School, and also have taken couple of film making courses from Raindance, Toronto

As a Christian, how do you see yourself impacting the film industry?

Films have become a very powerful media for any type of communication, whether positive or negative. Hence, we need to use this media to impact the world with the message of Jesus Christ through films.

What was the biggest challenge you overcame to make your film?

A Cinematographer agreed to help with the Camera, but the night before the shooting day, the cinematographer declined and mentioned he cannot come, so I had to do the cinematography myself.

Who are your biggest influences in film and why?

Alex Kendrick is my biggest influence. When I attended the International Christian Film Festival in Orlando, FL in April 2016, I heard about how Alex started his film making career with a micro budget film, Flywheel.

What is the funniest or weirdest thing that has ever happened to you on set?

I initially thought of having three boys for the three black men in the film, on the day of shooting, one of the three boys couldn’t come, so I had to take a female cast and do a complete covering with the costumes for all three, so no one can recognize them whether they are male or female actors.

What is your favorite Bible verse? How does this influence your filmmaking?

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Isaiah 61:3b “….for the display of His splendor”

The life that I live is not for myself, but for Christ; so I want to live my life displaying the Christ’s Splendor to the world.


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